2 - OUT IN THE MOUNTAINS — JULY 1999 ». Samara F oundatzo of Vermont executive directr Bill Lippert (I) with Outright Vermont board member David Ryan Samara Foundation Awards First Annual Grants I Eight GLBTQ Agencies Receive Funding BURLINGTON, VT — A trans- gender training institute, a Burlington GLBTQ community center, and a traveling display on same-gender marriage are among the projects sharing more than $20,000 in funding from 21 Vermont philanthropic founda- tion. The organizations behind the undertakings —— which cover such areas as youth services, AIDS education and support, media development, community education, and community build- ing — were all recipients of 1999 grants from the Samara Foundation of Vermont. The eight winners were select- ed from among 18 proposals seeking more than $120,000 in support from Samara in its first regular grant cycle. A $2,000 grant to Trans North Country will officially launch the Transgender Training Institute. Funds will support development of training materials and a free training regarding transgender issues for service providers and community members in central Vennont. The Vermont Freedom To Marry Task Force received $4,165 for its statewide efforts to increase visibility and education about same-sex marriage and civil rights issues for gay and les- bian Vermonters. Grant funds will purchase two new portable SAMARA, p26 D. E lllllll sections NS Health & Wellbeing I 6 Arts & Entertainment ..23 _ Gayity . rlenartments World News Briefs Letters health source............... I 9 the source calendar I community compass....22 Skeeter Bites.................8 Legal Briefs....................9 Crow's Caws.................I2 Stonehenge to Stonewall .. I 3 20 Something l 5 Faith Matters...............I7 Cybershark..................24 Dyke Psyche Governor’s Commission on Women to Honor Baker Plaintiffs I Group Calls Freedom to Marry “lssue of Equity” MONTPELIER — The six GLBT Vermonters suing the state for the right to marry are being honored for their efforts -— by a part of the Vermont state government. On July 8, Nina Beck and Stacy Jolles will accept an award from the Vermont Governor’s Commission on Women on behalf of Stan Baker, Peter Harrigan, Lois Famham, and Holly Puterbaugh, their co-plaintiffs in Baker v. State. The ceremony is part of the annual convention of the National Association of Commissions for Women being held in Boston. “These Vennonters deserve special recognition for their courage, commitment and willing- ness to open their private lives to public scrutiny for what is simply a civil rights issue,” said Judith Sutphen, the commission’s execu- tive director. “It is human nature to love, and it is a human right to be in a long-terrn committed relation- ship recognized by the state. Same gender couples share the same responsibilities and commitment as married couples, yet they are denied many of the benefits grant- ed to heterosexual married cou- ples.” According to Beth Robinson, co-counsel for the plaintiffs, the State is trying to justify its dis- crimination in marriage on the basis of gender. The commission is concerned that enforcing pre- destined roles for men and women in marriage threatens the equal status of men and"women in society. This is not the first time the 16-member commission has pub- licly voiced its disagreement with the state over this issue. In 1996, it unanimously adopted a policy supporting same-sex mar- riage. V Vermont Gets Tougher on Hate Crimes MONTPELIER — Changes to existing Vermont hate crimes leg- islation that offer additional pro- tection to victims of bias-moti- vated offenses were signed into law last month. “This puts teeth in the hate crimes bill,” said Governor Howard Dean as he signed Act 56, which took effect July 1. The legislation provides for relief from abuse orders for vic- tims of hate-motivated crimes to be issued at the request of either the victim or the Attorney General. Such orders are similar to those issued in cases of domes- tic abuse. A person suspected of a hate crime can be ordered by a judge to have no contact with the victim or anyone else who is or is perceived to be a member of the protected category. According to this statute, “protected category” includes race, color, religion, national ori- gin, sex, ancestry, age, service in the armed forces of the United States, handicap, sexual orienta- tion and gender identity, and per- ceived membership in any such group. Keith Goslant of the Vermont Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights looks forward to using this new legislation in finalizing a hate crimes training program for police officers. The comprehensive training, said Goslant, “will strengthen the commitment to ensuring all citi- zens are afforded the equal pro- tection from acts of violence that the original hate crimes law intended. Representative Ann Seibert of Norwich was a chief proponent of the bill. “I think Vermont should be proud of this,” she noted. “lt’s another very impor- tant tool in the tool box.” V Mountain Pride Media and Out in the Mountains invite you to join us Sunday, july 25th 4-6pm bar a benebit reception at the home 01; Hugh Russell in Marlboro, VT Special Guest —— john Scagliotti Producer oi; Before Stonewall and Aiter Stonewall and creator of; PBS ’s In the Lite Light rebreshments will be served suggested donation: $10 RSVP to Joe Ryan 802-388-0326 or joeryanzotogether. net